Gameday: Bruins back in Pittsburgh to take on Penguins

(Photo credit: Sharon Bradley) Tuukka Rask will be in net for the Bruins as he and the Bruins look to avenge Tuesday’s loss to the Penguins

For the second time in less than a week the Bruins will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins in the second game of back-to-back contests.

This time the Bruins hope for a better result against Sidney Crosby and company. Last Tuesday the Bruins held a 2-0 lead with just under seven minutes to play in regulation but three unanswered Penguins goals in less than seven minutes gave the Penguins the come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

On Saturday the Bruins dominated Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals as the Bruins “first line” returned in their 4-1 win. Anton Khudobin made the start for the Bruins and was a goal off the skate of Johnny Boychuk away from his first shutout of the year.

The Penguins head into todays tilt winners of their last eight which includes Saturday’s 3-0 shutout of the underachieving New York Rangers. Marc-Andre Fleury made 23 saves in the win.

They have taken heat all season for pulling the disappearing act, but Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton silenced the critics yesterday with a combined six points. Lucic and Horton know that they need to start producing on a more consistent basis and took a step towards that against the Capitals. When playing their game, the line of Lucic, Horton and David Krejci is arguably one the most dangerous in hockey. Hopefully for the Bruins, Saturday’s outburst was the beginning of good things to come for Horton and Lucic.

He was my player to watch in Tuesday’s game against the Penguins, and he’s going to my player to watch in this one as well. Brad Marchand has now gone six games without lighting the lamp, but Marchand’s play hasn’t been that bad with five assists during that stretch.

Penguins to watch

Playing on the third line behind the likes of Sidney Crosby, James Neal, and when healthy, Evgeni Malkin, it’s easy to let Brandon Sutter fly under the radar. The Bruins learned on Tuesday that letting that happen is not a good idea. Sutter has eight goals on the year, but he showed the Bruins how dangerous Sutter can be when needed. The Bruins will have to keep an eye on Sutter throughout the game.

I don’t have to sit here and tell you how good Sidney Crosby is and that he is extremely dangerous at all times on the ice. I am here to tell you that Crosby was held pointless against the Rangers on Saturday. That marks only sixth time Crosby has gone pointless this season.